Control head



Dec. 26, 1931;A c. FCHL 1,940,698

CONTROL HEAD Filed April 18, 1930 Patented Dec. Z6, 1933V g UNITEDSTATES CONTROL HEAD Charles Pohl, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor toMichael P. Hannin, Los Angeles,` Calif.

v Application April 18, 1930. Serial No. 445,387

`1o claims. (ci. esszz) ,This invention has to do with a control to beapplied to a well casing and it is 'an object ofthe invention to providea practical, effective control head operable to prevent a well fromblowing outl through the casing.

In the drilling of a deep well there is consideru able danger of thewell blowing `out through the casing. Various packing devices have beenproposed and used to prevent the blowing out of wells when the drillpipe or drilling tools are in the casing, while other Atypes of devicesare sometimes employed to pack off the upper end of the well casingwhenthere are no tools or drill pipe extending into the Well. Ablowoutpreventer or control head is usually applied to the upper end ofa Well casingto be available to packofl the casing in the event thathigh pressures are-encountered in the well. It is necessary tofrequent-V ly remove the drilling tools from the casing during thecourse of drilling a well and it sometimes occurs that high pressureswill develop when there are no tools or drill pipe inthe casing. In theevent thatv a lcontrol head designed to pack between a drill pipe andthe casing is mounted on the casing when the tools are withdrawn fromthe well and high pressures develop, it is necessary to apply a headintendedto pack off the casing when there is nodrill pipe inthe casing.`l-Iighpressures. develop very rapidly and with little warning,

so that it frequently occurs that there is insuT"- flcient time toreplace or exchange one type `of head or fitting for another, withtheresult that the well getsout of control. y

It is a general object of my invention to provide a control head to beapplied to awell casing that is operable to pack off the casing'eitherwhen a drill pipe is in the casing or when-there is no drill pipe ortools in the casing. Y

It is another object ofthe invention `to provide` It is a furtherobjectof the invention to pro-` vide a control head of the character mentionedthat may be quickly and easily applied to a casing and which does notinterfere with normal drilling operations when in position on thecasing.

Other objects and features of my invention will be bestandmore fullyunderstood from the following detailed description `of a typical formand application of the invention, throughout whichy descriptionreference-is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. lis a vertical detailed sectional View of the control head providedby this invention illustrating a drill pipe extending through it. Fig.l2 is a Y view similar toFig. 1 illustrating the plug prot vided by the`invention in operating position in the head. Fig;3 is a verticaldetailed sectional View of the head being a View taken as indicated byline 3-3on Fig. 1. Fig. fl is a vertical detailed sectional view ofthevhead beingA a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig.` 2. Fig, 5isa top or plan view of the head taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig.2. Fig. 6 is a transverse detailed sectional View taken as indicated byline 6-6011 Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is a vertical detailed'sectional View ofthe packing assembly embodied in the inventionbeing apview takensubstantially as indicated byline 7-7 on Fig. 6g n The device providedby this invention includes, generally, a body 10 adapted to bel appliedto a Well casing,`packing means 11 adapted to be arranged inthe body 10,means 12 for locking the packing 11 in'position orfor operating thepacking, and a plug 13 adapted to be employed in con-` nection withthe'device when the device is used to pack oifa well casingin'whichthere is no drill pipe, or the like.

`The body 10 is adapted to be applied to the upper end ,of a Wellcasing. rIhebody 10 is tubular having a'central longitudinal opening 14for passing. a drill pipe P, or the like, and for carrying the packingmeans 11. In practice any suitable means may be provided for connectingthe body 10 toa Well casing. In the particular form of the inventionillustrated in the drawing the lower portion 16 ofthe body isVexternally and internally screw threaded so that it is adapted to bescrew threaded onto a coupling or other suitable connecting partuon acasing.v Openings or ports 17 may be provided in thewalls of the body 10to receive discharge pipes or conduits 18 for ,discharginggas and fluidwhen the head is in operation. An upwardly and outwardly tapered annularshoulder l9 is provided inthe walls of the opening 14 above the ports17.A Thef portion of the openingl above the shoulder 19 is formed toslidably Areceive the packing means ll and is pref-V erably of the samediameter throughout its length.

\ The packing means l1 is an annular construc-v tion or assembly adaptedto operate in the openrubber; composition, or the like.` The packingring 22, which ismat the lower end of the body Vof packing 20, is formedto seat against the tapered between the rings and passingl throughopenings shoulder `19 and its exterior is tapered to fit the shoulder19. The packing ring 21 at the upper end of the body of packing 20 isformed to slidably i fit the upper portion of the opening 140i the body.

tudinally at one side alonga line registering with .the lines ofseparation of the rings 21and 22so that the packing assemblyll may beeasily arranged or sprung over the drill pipe P and lowered into theopening 14 without disturbingthe drill pipe. In practice it is`desirable tojo'in or con* Yso openings 28`in' the. upper ring 21.

nectitlie several parts of the packing means 11 so .thatit is in theformof a unitary assembly to be readily handled.' The rings 21 and 22 maybeconnected by means of `tie members 26 extending 26 may be in theformofscrews having their lower .ends screw threaded into the lower packingring 22 uand having their upper ends operable in The upperV end of theupper packing ring 21 is preferably made flat and is adapted tobeengaged vby. orto support adrill pipe coupling CY or other projectingpart on the drill pipe to actuate the packing 20.

TIhe means 12 is providedforlookingthe packingineans 11 Vin'operatingposition in the body 19`and may be operated to compress the packing 20into sealing position. The means 12 includes a .collar 29 screwthreadedon the upper portion of the body l0'. `The collar 29 may beremovably threaded on the bodyl and handles 3G'rna`y beprovded on thecollar. A' sectional "compression engage the packing ring 22,to'lock thepacking means in the body or for vactuating the packing means. l cludestwolike sections 32 pivotally mounted on v The sectional packing memberV31 finthe upper side of the collar 29; "The sections 32 Vare arcuateand may besubstantially semi-cir# cular in theirgeneraliconiiguration.`v Adjacent ends of ythe sections 32fmay bepivotedor hinged to the collar 29 Vby means 'of hinges or boltsj33."

The 'pivoted ends `of thesections 32 are'curved and formed so that thesections' are adapted to be swung to out'positionssuch as illustrated in`the broken lines in' Fig. 5 4of the drawing so that the packingassembly'll may be readilylowered` into the opening 14.` AVThe inneredges of the sections 32 are provided with curved or substan- I. tiallysemi-circular recesses 36 which are adapted to form a substantial round`opening for vpassing the drill pipe l? when in the in or closedposition. The opening formedby the recesses 36 is preferablysuiiiciently largeto freely pass a drill pipe couplingv'C, or the'like,so that the coupling may engage the upper side of the packing ring 22.In accordance with the invention means may be provided for releasablyholding the sectionsV 32 inthe in or closed position. inthe` drawing Ihavershown bolts or-pins BI'adapted to be ar-` l that they areadapted'to be brought'into engagenient with the upper end of the packingring 21 y tolockithe packing assembly 11 Yin'thebody when the collar 29is threaded downwardly on the body.

The; sections 32 are providedfwith downwardly projecting flanges 39 attheir peripheries or edges. Inwardly projecting anges 49 are provided atthe lower ends of the fianges 39 to seat into an annular 4recess orgroove 41 in the collar 29; The flanges 49 andthe groove 41 are' formedand related so that the flanges 40 are adapted to be freely swung intothe groove and tightly t the groove when the sections 32 `are in the inor voperating positions. i

The plug 13 is intended to` be employed when it :is desired to vpack Aoior close a well casing when there is no `drill pipe or the likeextending throughfthe casing. The plug 13 is an elongated cylindricalpart adapted to extend into the head 19,` The plug 13 is an elongatedcylindrical part adapted to extend through thefpacking assembly 11. The'pl'ug13 may be 'about the same size'as the drill pipe'. The" plug 13 ismade sunicientlyi long to project downwardly fronifthe lower end ofthepacking assembly 11 and to project above the upper end of theheadwhen'in operating position in the device. The' plug 13 is provided with''an annular radial iiange 45 adapted to seat againstthe upper side ofthering 21 and adapted to be engaged by the lower sides of the sections32. Theiiange 45 is preferably of substantially the same diameter as thering 22 so that'it is engaged bythe sections 32 when the collar 29 isoperated to compress the packing 20. A Llower radialange 46 is'providedon the'plug 14 to 4be at the lower side of the packingjring 22: Iheflange 46 is adapted to engagethe packing ring 22 to compress thepacking when an upward pull iseXerted Aon the' plug when the sections 32of thelocking means arein'operating position. In accordance with thepreferred form of the inven-l tion means is provided( in connectionwithY-the plug 42 for carryingand suspending the plug' and' vforapplying an upward pull to'the plug when'l desired. YIn the forrn'of theinvention illustrated a `bail or ring 4711s provided at the upper end ofthe.` plugv 13 for receiving a line, or the like,lfor

suspending and handling the plug. The plug 13 Y is adapted to besuspended within a well derrick to be in position to belowered into thehead 19120 'when it is desired to pack off a well casing when thedrilling or operating tools `are withdrawnfrom the well. p e Y Normaldrilling operations may be performed with the 1 body 2G of Vtheheadappliedto the upper end-of the casing and the sections 32 may beI swungtothe out positionsA Vshown'in br-oken ylines'in-Figf toipermit fullYoperation of tools through the head-and well casing. When'there areindications that high-pressureshave'been encountered-ina well and arblow cutis likely tol 1 the drill pipe and lowered .into the opening 14yof the head. The sections 32-offthe locking means may then-be swung intotheir operating positionsl and tliecollar 29may be screweddown onthebody to lock the packing means inthe operating position. Y Thepacking'may then be operated into tight sealing engagement with thedrill pipe P and the walls of` the body opening 14 either by allowingthe! drill pipe P to'lower so-thatv a drill pipe coupling Cor otherprojecting part of the pipe engages-the packing ring 22 to compress thepacking 20, or'an upward pull may beV applied to the drill pipe P Vsothat a drill pipe coupling 50 belowthe packing means 11 is brought intoen-` gagenfient with the lower packing'ring 21 tocomf 150 press thepacking. If desired or necessary, the collar 29 may be screwed onto thebody 10 to compress the packing through the locking sections 32.

When it is desired to pack off in a well casing when there is no drillpipe in the casing the plug 13 may be swung to a position above thecontrol head and the packing assembly 11 may be arranged around the plugbetween the flanges 45 and 46 and the plug lowered into the opening 14.The sections 32 of the locking means may then be swung to the inposition and the collar 29 screwed downwardly on the body to operate thesections 32 into locking positions. Either a downward or upward forcemay be applied to the plug 13 to operate the packing 20 into tightsealing engagement with the plug and the Vbody 10.

It is to be noted that the invention provides a control head that isoperable to pack off a well casing when there is drill pipe `in thecasing ras well as when there is no drill pipe or otherr tools extendingthrough the casing. It is to be Y further noted that the inventionprovides a control head that is operable to effectively pack off a wellcasing when drill pipe is in the casing which is not of suiiicientweight to properly actuate the packing. The sections 32 of the lockingmeans are formed and mounted on the collar 29 so that they may beemployed to operate the packing if desired or necessary and permit adrill pipe coupling or other projecting part on a drill pipe to engagethe packing means for operating the packing.

Having described only a typical preferred form of my invention, I do notwish to limit myself to the specific details set forth, but wishtoireserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to thoseskilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A casing head of the character described including, a body adapted tobe applied to the casing and having kan opening, packing means in theopening operable by compression, and means for locking the packing meansin the body, including a collar screw threaded to the body, and pivotedsections on the collar adapted to engage the upper end of the packingmeans, the sections providing an opening to pass a projecting part on anobject extending through the body.

2. A casing head of the 'character describedincluding, a body adapted tobe applied to the casing and having an opening, packing means in theopening Aoperable by compression, and means for locking the packingmeans in the body, including a collar screw threaded to the body, pivoted sections on the collar adapted to engage the upper end of thepacking means, and flanges on the sections to seat in a groove in thecollar when in the engaging position.

3. A casing head including, a body adapted to be applied to the casingand having an opening, compressible packing means in the body openingfor sealing about an object extending through the body, a plug adaptedto be arranged through the packing means to be sealed about thereby, aprojecting part on the plug for engaging the upper end of the packingmeans, and means adapted `to engage said part and compress the packingmeans, said means` including a rcollar threaded on the body, and pivotedsections on the collar adapted to engage said part. y

4. A casing head including a body to be applied to the upper end of awell casing, packing means in the body to pack oi about drill pipe orthe like, extending into the well, a plug adapted to be arranged throughthe packing means when the pipe is not present, a projecting part on theplug for engaging the upper end of the packing means, and a pivotedsection carried by the body operable to engage the upper end of thepacking means when the pipe is present andA operable to engage the saidprojecting part when the plug is in the packing means.

5. A casing'head including a body to be ap- 85 plied to the upper end ofa well casing, packing means in the body to pack off about drill pipe orthe like, extending into the well, a plug adapted to be arranged throughthe packing means when the pipe is not present, a projecting -part onthe plug for engaging the upper end of the packing means, a collarthreaded on the body, and a horizontally pivotable section on the collaradapted to engage either the upper end of the packing means or the saidprojecting part.

6. A casing head of the character described including, a body to beapplied to the casing and having an opening through it, packing means tobe arranged in the opening, and means for locking the packing means inthe body including a collar threaded on the body and horizontallypivotable sections at the upper endof the collar to engage the packingmeans,

'7. A casing head of the character described including, a body adaptedtobe applied to the casing and having an opening, an annular pack-` ingassembly in the body and adapted to seal about a drill pipe, or thelike, a plug adapted to be inserted in the packing assembly to close itwhen the pipe is removed, and means for` locking the packing means inthe body, including a shiftable member on the body shiftable to engagean end of the packing assembly when the pipe is present and adapted toengage the plug to lock the packing assembly in the body when the plugis in the assembly.

8. In combination with a casing head having a body' with an opening,packing means in the opening having an opening for passing a drill pipe,a plug of substantially the same extent as the bo'dy adapted to bearranged through the opening in the packing means to completely ll andplug the opening, apart on the plug adapted to engage the upper end oftheY packing means a shiftable member carried by the body operable to aposition where it engages said part to lock the plug in the packingopening.

9. In combination with a casing head having a body with an opening,packing means in the opening having an opening for passing a drill pipe,a plug adapted to be arranged through the A opening in the packing meansto completely ll and plug the opening, a part on the plug adapted toengage the upper end of the packing means,

a part on the plug adapted to engage the lower end of the packing means,and a shiftable member on the bodyoperable to engage one of said partsto hold the ,plug in the packing opening.

10. A casing head including, a body to be applied to the upper end ofthe casing, an annular packing Aassembly in the body to seal about pipe,

a manually portable plug for arrangement in the packing assembly whenthe pipe is removed, and means adapted to act through the plug forcompressing the packing assembly to seal with the v plug and adapted todirectly compress the packing assembly when the plug is not present.

CHARLES POI-IL.

